The red-eared turtle is a reptile in the family of American freshwater turtles. In the wild, they are most common in the United States. Keeping these turtles at home is not so difficult. When caring for them, special attention must be paid to food, water and microclimate.
It is necessary
- - an aquarium or container;
- - gravel;
- - water;
- - water filter;
- - infrared and ultraviolet lamps;
- - feed.
Instructions
Step 1
If you decide to get a red-eared turtle, you should know the peculiarities of its behavior, as well as the rules for handling it. When conditions change, these turtles need time to acclimatize. During this period, they tend to hide in their shell. After a while, they will begin to eat freely, the initial fear will also disappear. However, remember that a red-eared turtle can bite quite painfully. This happens when she is afraid. If you pick up your turtle to move it or just to see it, be careful to hold it firmly with both hands. Do not let the animal fall, even from a small height, the resulting injuries can be fatal. Do not handle your turtle with dirty hands; wash them before and after touching it.
Step 2
You can buy a glass aquarium or a plastic container to house your turtle, and a small baby bath can do the same. Remember that the turtle will grow, so it is advisable to think in advance about the size of its home. It is better if it is originally intended for an adult. Make sure that the volume of the container is at least 55 liters. The container should contain an artificial reservoir, as well as dry land, prepared, for example, from gravel. The land area should be large enough for the turtle to settle on it, completely leaving the water. Also try to cover the tank with a lid to prevent the animal from escaping.
Step 3
Keeping a red-eared turtle requires maintaining a special microclimate. Make sure that the air temperature is kept at 24 ° C. To maintain this temperature, you can use, for example, a heater or an infrared lamp. Also ensure that the tortoise is receiving sufficient light. Never leave the container in direct sunlight, as this can lead to overheating, do not exceed the optimum temperature (24 ° C). You can replace sunlight with an ultraviolet lamp. In this case, you need to independently ensure the cycles of day and night, turning the lamp on and off at a certain time.
Step 4
Keeping a red-eared turtle makes it extremely important to care for the condition of the water in which it lives. Maintain its temperature between 24 and 30 ° C. Do not allow the temperature to drop below this range, as this could adversely affect the health of the animal. Water is a good breeding ground for various bacteria, so it is important to keep it clean. Change the water in the container regularly, be sure to use a dechlorinator if using tap water. Change the water and contents of the aquarium completely at least every two months. You can also use special filters to keep the water clean.
Step 5
The diet of red-eared turtles depends on their age. The cubs of these reptiles eat only plant food, while the adults, as a rule, are omnivores. Also try to use a separate container for feeding them, if possible, it will be rather dirty after eating. The food should be balanced, do not use exclusively commercial food for feeding them, it should make up no more than 25% of their diet, give them the same amount of protein (worms, moths, etc.). In addition, at least half of their diet should be plant foods, these can be vegetables and fruits without seeds and seeds. Be sure to use special supplements that contain vitamins. Add them to your food twice a week.
